Algeria suspends football after Ebosse's death

Albert Ebosse, dies after being hit following his team's defeat to league rivals, prompting Algeria Football Federation to suspend football indefinitely.

The Algerian Football Federation has suspended football indefinitely following the death of one of the league's star players, Albert Ebosse, who was killed after being hit by a rock apparently thrown by his own fans.

Ebosse, a striker from Cameroon, died in hospital on Saturday night after being hit as players left the field following JS Kabylie 2-1 loss to USM Alger in the northern city of Tizi Ouzou. Ebosse had scored his side's equaliser from a penalty.

The Algerian federation has ruled that $100,000 will be given to Ebosse's family, roughly what he would have earned over the period of this contract. JS Kabylie's players will also each donate a month's salary.

The 24-year-old, the leading goalscorer in the Algerian league last season, was apparently hit by the rock hurled from a section of JS Kabylie supporters angry at their team's defeat.

Ebosse was struck as players walked off after the game and fans began throwing rocks at them. He was taken to hospital around 500 metres away from the stadium, where he died.

A police investigation has been opened into his death, the Confederation of African Football and the player's club, JS Kabylie, said.

"We expect exemplary sanctions to be taken against this grave act of violence," Issa Hayatou, the president of the African confederation, said in a statement on Sunday.

The president of Algeria's professional league said he was present at the game but left minutes before the incident.

"I am still finding this tragic death hard to grasp because I was at the stadium just minutes before this tragic incident and Albert Ebosse was still running in all senses of the word before my eyes," Mahfoud Kerbadj said.

The Algeria Football Federation and the professional league both ordered emergency meetings over Ebosse's death. Officials from JS Kabylie and the match officials were summoned to a special meeting on Monday, Kerbadj said, and the stadium where the incident took place was closed until further notice.

Algeria Football Federation President Mohamed Raouraoua said he hoped that "the perpetrators of this unspeakable act are severely punished."

Ebosse joined Kabylie last year and became an immediate success, scoring 17 goals last season as his team finished second to USM Alger, the opponents on Sunday, in Algeria's top flight.

USM Alger also offered their condolences. "JS Kabylie's Cameroonian striker has lost his life after being hit in the head by something launched from the stands," a club statement read. "This terrible news is saddening for football in our nation and in Cameroon and arrives like a bombshell."

Ebosse's body was transferred to a military hospital in preparation for it to be flown home to Cameroon, his club said.